12 soldiers hurt in Sulu clash with Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

Aside from the 15 soldiers killed on Monday, at least 12 government troopers were injured in a series of skirmishes with the Abu Sayyaf Group on Monday, a military official said Tuesday.

“Mayroon tayong 12 wounded. Kung tutuusin hindi lang eksaktong 12 ang wounded sa atin because hindi lahat 'yun nadadala sa hospital,” Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, told reporters.

“Yung ibang kasamahan nating sundalo they opt to stay on the frontline especially if they feel na (even with) 'yung wound nila, kaya pa nilang ipagpatuloy (ang bakbakan). Gusto pa nilang ipagpatuloy ang laban. Gusto nilang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang mission kahit na sila ay may tama,” he added.

He also denied rumors that there were soldiers who were decapitated.

“Sa ngayon walang ganyang report ang commander ng Joint Task Force Sulu na merong na-violate sa ating mga sundalo,” he said.

He said the ASG members are now on the run.

“Sa ngayon ang sitwasyon ng ating combat operations, ang ating mga kalaban are highly mobile especially ngayong na-e-engage sila. They are trying their best to avoid our operating units,” he said.

He attributed the military encounter with ASG to correct intelligence they have been getting.

“We have the right intelligence. Ito ay mai-a-attribute din natin sa ating mga kababayan sa Sulu na nakikita. Sila ang nagpo-provide ng information na ito and so far these allowed to us to have contacts with them (ASG). And we hope to have more contacts or armed engagements in the coming days,” he said.

Arevalo said the AFP got its biggest casualty when they encountered some 120 ASG members around 4:30 p.m. Monday in Sitio Kan Jalul, Brgy. Maligay also in Patikul, Sulu. Fifteen soldiers, including an officer, were killed then.

“Nagkaenkwentro talaga sila. It’s just that may kalakihan ang kanilang numero. Ang report sa atin ay 120 fully armed ASG terrorists ang nakaharap nila at ang ating mga sundalo ay talagang nakipagbakbakan,” he said.

“We can say that 'yung number na 'yun are all part of their mobility dun sa area. It could be that they have massed up as well sapagkat they have the mastery of the terrain. They could go to one place and leave that place in a short of period time,” he added.

The names of those wounded were not released.

Those killed in the armed encounters were:

1. 2Lt. Ernan P. Gusto, 33
2. SSgt. Ruel A Catubay, 39
3. Sgt. Jay Erwin L Almohallas, 38
4. Cpl. Omar M Raddulan, 41
5. Cpl. Ronald M Galoniga, 33
6. Cpl. Elid S Ismael, 49
7. Cpl. Salik H Mandangan, 31
8. Pfc. Nestor C Bacaling, 26
9. Pfc. Jison B Falcasantos, 28
10. Pfc. Gerald A Yubal, 29
11. Pfc. Dhendo A Dujo, 32
12. Pfc. Roselito A Arnoco, 29
13. Pfc. Glend C Resma, 24
14. Pfc. Rogelio D Vincoy, 28
15. Pvt. Jonas A Lumayan, 23

—Amita Legaspi/KG, GMA News